The European Parliament negotiators want to utilize the Emergency Support Instrument to allow accessible and free-of-charge testing to all EU citizens.
In the course of the third round of negotiations on the proposed Regulation on the EU COVID-19 Certificate, which was held on Tuesday, the EU parliament negotiators presented a compromise package, which includes alterations regarding the free movement restrictions and the cost of testing, .
In a press release issued by the EU Parliament, it was revealed that the same made such a request for a European solution that would facilitate free testing as a method to restore the fundamental right of free movement to the citizens of the EU, avoid discrimination that might follow, and provide alternative options to those who have not been vaccinated against the COVID-19 yet.
“To this end, the European Parliament proposes to use the Emergency Support Instrument and allocate a substantial amount of money to ensure accessible, timely and free of charge testing,” the Parliament’s statement reads.
This would not be the first time that the Emergency Support Instrument provides help in the context of the pandemic. Of all contributions, €3.5 billion were used to make vaccine purchases, and another €46 million have been used for the preparatory process regarding the establishment of the COVID-19 certificate.
The EU Commission tabled the proposal on the establishment of a Digital Green Certificate on March 17.
According to the Commission’s announcement, the certificate will be issued for those who have been vaccinated against the COVID-19, the ones who have recovered, and those who undergo testing. Moreover, except for the citizens of the EU, the certificate will also be issued to citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
The President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, revealed the plans of the block countries to create a certificate for those vaccinated or recovered back at the very beginning of March.
Nevertheless, the Commission insisted that the certificate should not become a precondition for travel, as well as noted that the certificate will not discriminate against non-vaccinated persons as it is not a travel document.
Similarly, the Members of the Parliament have also warned the Commission not to permit for the certificates to become a ‘de facto’ requirement for travelling in Europe.
Now, the EU Parliament is set to conclude an agreement just in time for the summer season following the negotiations among the co-legislators that is scheduled for May 20.
Previously, an EU official confirmed that all those wishing to travel to the Schengen Area after the Member States start to go back to normal may be asked to present a negative COVID-19 test result.